RASTAFARI IN ITALY

"The event of 2nd November, which was attended also by sister Mary, was organized under the auspices of A.P.R.I., the Permanent Assembly of RasTafarians in Italy, I'n'I organization which is an attempt to coordinate and centralize all the activities of the RasTafarians brethrens in Italy. I'n'I don't want to be considered as another RasTafarian house, but rather an effort towards the unity of different perspectives within Ras Tafari. I'n'I, the Rastafarian community in Italy, is pleased, through the patient work of sister Mary whom deserves all of I'n'I respect, to keep in contact with the international community of Ras Tafari. It's been many years I'n'I are holding the name of His Majesty and of Ethiopia in Italy, the land of Rome and the place where fascism flourished and planned to menace Ethiopia. In the meditation of I'n'I, it is an heavy and proud task to bring the word of Ras Tafari to this land, where I'n'I fathers suffered martyrdom and persecution in the very early days of Christianity".

"Since the 80's a few Ras Tafari communities were established in the south of Italy and Sicily. After many years, with the evident increase of the community and its spiritual growth, I'n'I the brethrens and sistrens took the decision to lay a solid foundation. Since His Majesty's teaching is to cooperate in love and unity, and to organize and centralize our deeds in order to "use our physical and mental powers purposefully and productively", the elders of the community decided few years ago, as a first step, to create an association entitled EXODUS - Ethiopian Cultural Service. In this regard, it is good to say that Exodus maintains a different perspective from the RasTafarian A.P.R.I. Organization. Although a considerable number of the members of Exodus are also Rastafarians, the association itself is not properly a RasTafarian association, but rather an Ethiopian cultural association, which intends to promote Ethiopian culture at any level and mainly from a historical perspective. The fulfilment of this task began with the establishment of a library -entitled "Haile Sellassie I, Elect of God, Library" in Rome- which at this stage includes about 1600 books and articles in different languages, both Ethiopian (Amharic, Tigrin and Gh'ez) and European (Italian, English, French). In the very near future, we are going to publish the catalogue on the web, since our Internet site is almost finished and ready to be published. Another important issue was the publishing of an important book, the "Ceremonial of Holy", in two languages: Amharic and Italian. The original edition of this book was delivered by His Majesty Himself on the occasion of His coronation in 1930 and consisted of a step-by-step explanation of the ceremony which surrounded the mystic event of His ascension upon King David' throne. We have almost completed the translation of the English version of this book, which shall be published in the next months for the meditation of all brethrens abroad. In a certain sense, the words enshrined in this book can be considered Jahnoy's own words, or at least a faithful expression of His will".

The Lion of Judah Magazine
"The Lion of Judah" is a magazine created within EXODUS - the Ethiopian Cultural Service, a non-profit social promotion Association. Exodus is directed at all those who want to understand, or interact with Ethiopian culture, at the Ethiopian community in Italy and abroad, and at RasTafarian brothers and sisters. "The Lion of Judah" magazine strives: to promote the teachings and the testimony of the Ethiopian King of kings, Haile Sellassie I; to deepen understanding of the conceptions and traditions of Ethiopian culture and of her ancient Christianity; to run through the stages of Jewish and Christian history through the words of the holy books and of our fathers. The ancient culture of Ethiopia hands down to us a heritage which it is vital to refer to, especially in this age where the spiritual identity of man seems lost through indifference and injustice. We pray that our humble work may add a step in the elevation of man towards a renewed - but ancient- spiritual path, an active Christianity which has to become living prayer, by striving against the spectres of discrimination, injustice, oppression and misery. We search for a religious feeling which is, in the words of Ababa Jahnoy Haile Sellassie I, "the way by which man may be saved from traditional superstition and modern scepticism".
The magazine issues about three times a year and is distributed by hand. I'n'I strongly need people who could help us in this field, but I'n'I need to remember that the language is Italian, since our main purpose is to make available to Italian people material which exists only in English, with particular reference to His Majesty's speeches. In the near future, I'n'I also hope to begin to publish issues in English.
The last issue -the one of which you can see the cover on Rasta Ites site - includes:
1. a selection of His Majesty's speeches concerning: African identity, disarmament, neo-colonialism, African spirit, African unity, the independence of the Ethiopian Church.
2. A brief history of the Ethiopian Church from its origins to the XX century.
3. Article concerning the recent armament trade between Italian and Eritrean Governments.
4. Report of the Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches held by His Majesty in Addis Abeba in 1965, including words of Jahnoy and of the Oriental Patriarchs.
5. Translation (from the original gh'ez) of the first chapter of Kebra Nagast, with an historical introduction.
6. Extract from the holy words of Qeddus Yohannis Afeworq (St. John the Chrysostome)
7. An historical perspective concerning His Majesty from an Ethiopian historian.

For any information, contact: Iyared